Language: A Definition
a) What is a definition of language?
b) Using your definition, which of the following would qualify as using language? Do you have
to alter your definition to account for some of these?
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a wink
Native American smoke signals
a dog barking at a cat
a baby crying
yawning during a boring class
classical music playing from an iPod
Washoe the chimpanzee using American Sign Language
honking a car horn at someone moving into your lane
giving someone the finger
a parrot saying, “Hello”
There is a distinct difference between LANGUAGE and COMMUNICATION.
Animals unquestionably communicate, but this is NOT considered language by almost all
psychologists and linguists. Their communication is largely instinctual, responds solely to
external stimulus, and does not allow for the creation of entirely new thoughts/concepts.
 Language, however, involves both creativity and collectivity and is
actually a form of metaphor.
LANGUAGE IS:
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A system of symbols
A system of symbols that is known within a community (involves awareness)
A system of symbols that is known and used by a community (involves exchange)
(Writing is a set of symbols representing other symbols)
R. Stainton: Language is a “system of symbols we all know and use.”
E. Sapir: Language is “a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas,
emotions, and desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols.”
R.A. Hall: Language is “the institution whereby humans communicate and interact with each
other by means of habitually used oral-auditory arbitrary symbols.”
A.N. Chomsky: Language is “a set of rules and infinite sentences, each finite in length, and
constructed out of a finite set of elements.”
ACTIVITY: In a small group, collectively decide on a definition for the word
“table.”